The Blog

Month: June 2014

Pinedale’s Soundcheck Mini-Music Fest Returns Saturday, June 28

The Pinedale Fine Arts Council is proud to present the seventh annual Sound Check Mini-Music Festival on Saturday, June 28 at 5 p.m. at American Legion Park in Pinedale, WY. The event is free to attend so dust off that cooler, grab your camp chair and head to Pinedale for an evening of amazing music!

Headlining this year’s Soundcheck will be Portland, OR singer/songwriter Laura Gibson. Gibson currently records for the independent U.S. label Hush Records. In 2008, she toured the United States as the opening act for Colin Meloy of the Decemberists. Since the release of 2009’s Beasts of Season, which NPR called “nothing short of a masterpiece” and Mojo called “both quietly devastating and life-affirming”, Gibson has seen her career swell to include everything from modeling in a Japanese fashion magazine, to receiving a standing ovation from an auditorium full of prison inmates.

Playing the Soundcheck middle slot this year is Olympia, WA/Minneapolis, MN duo The Lowest Pair. The Lowest Pair is a quirky, old-time roots influenced duet, featuring the high lonesome harmonies of banjo pickin’ songsters Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. They perform both traditional and original music, often nestling-in somewhere between. With their city folk front and back porch sentiment, this new, sweet, and powerful duo are turning heads across the country.

Opening the 7th annual Soundcheck will be Austin, TX duo Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay. Leigh and McKay craft story songs with equal measures heart and humor. “Before the World Was Made,” the Austin-based songwriters debut collaboration spotlights the celebrated troubadours in peak form via modern day country duets a la George Jones and Melba Montgomery but with very sophisticated songwriting.

Following this year’s Soundcheck will be an official after party at Rock Rabbit featuring Austin, TX trio Loves It! Born in Austin, Texas in 2010, Loves It is the duo comprised of songwriters of Vaughn Walters and Jenny Parrott that has already played hundreds of shows in the US, Europe and Asia in that short time. The harmony driven pair often switches between guitars, fiddle, and banjo, adding special guests to create a bigger sound, and playing with a veneration for tradition, and a determination to bring a modern voice to their favorite folk, country, gospel and punk sounds.

The annual Soundcheck Fest was first conceived 7 years ago by the Pinedale Fine Arts Council as a means of testing a new sound system they purchased with grant money from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund. The Town of Pinedale and the Sublette County Recreation Board helped support this event.

For more information please visit www.pinedalefinearts.com or call 307.367.7322. And be sure to find PFAC on facebook!

On both evenings, the Indian relay is a fast and entertaining race. Native American riders ride bareback around the track exchanging horses after each lap.

Pre-sale tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids (6-12). At the gate tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Call the Lander Chamber of Commerce – 307-332-3892 for tickets. On July 4th stay for the festive fireworks after the rodeo at dusk.

Start July 4th at the Lander Senior Center for the Pancake Breakfast 7-9 a.m. $5, 205 South 10th Street. The July 4th Pioneer Days Parade is a favorite and starts at 10 a.m. on Main Street, Lander. This is the World’s Oldest Historical Pageant Parade. The parade starts with the Annual Lander Half Marathon, walkers 6 a.m., runners 6:30 a.m. After the parade, head on down to Lander City Park for the annual buffalo BBQ 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets ($7) are usually sold during the parade or purchase tickets at the Lander Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $8 at the door.

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring G and S Outdoor Living of Cheyenne, WY

Woodworking has been a hobby of Gail’s for years. He had been researching different opportunities for quite some time before he retired. Once he did retire he had more time to devote to his craft and thus, the business was born.

For Gail, inspiration comes from the simple love of working with his hands and building something that is as comfortable and useful as it is beautiful. G and S Outdoor Living products are built by hand one at a time with the highest quality. They personally stand behind each piece with a guarantee, and will correct any issues and continue to provide support to their customers.

G and S Outdoor Living is right here in Cheyenne and they make all their products here. In addition to the furniture grade wood G and S also uses only stainless steel hardware, an all-weather glue and a high quality oil based finish. Western Red Cedar comes from Washington state and allows the furniture to be temperature neutral which means it won’t burn your legs in the summer or freeze them on a cold day. One of their favorite sights and sounds is the “ahhhh” factor. This is when someone sits on a G and S chair for the first time and that look of utter comfort followed by the “ahhh” that escapes.

G and S Outdoor Living products can be found on the web site at gandsoutdoorliving.com, or call them at 307.634.7811. Look for them under the grandstands at Frontier Park during Frontier Days; Riverbend Nursery on North Yellowstone, Wyoming Home on Lincolnway, and Global Spas on Del Range in Cheyenne.

There are a wide range of products, from custom signs starting around $30 to chairs, tables and gliders at about $450. They are always in the process of creating new products.

The Wyoming Historic Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site in Cheyenne honored Wyoming’s statehood with the Wyoming Day Celebration event on June 21st. Wyoming achieved statehood on July 10, 1890, cementing its place within the Union of the United States and as the 44th state. They celebrated with turn of the century activities on the lawn, Wyoming vendors, good food, a schedule of fun events, a pie eating contest, music and more!

Activities included traditional games such as croquet, graces and sack and potato races on the lawn. Historic characters met the guests. Piano by Bogy Bogensburger graced the mansion’s visitors, and outside Dave Munsick inspired many to dance. Special guests, Secretary of State Max Maxfield and State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, addressed the crowd and shared why they think Wyoming is such a wonderful place.

“This is a great activity,” says Christina Bird, Superinentendent. “We have games, crafts, shopping, music, food, antique cars, an ice cream social and so much more! This is a great way to celebrate Wyoming’s statehood and heritage.”

Lander, WY — The Lander Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Fremont Toyota Lander Brew Festival on June 13-14, 2014. For $30 (each day, or $50 both days) visitors are welcome to taste a wide variety of beer samples. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce or at the festival.

The Brew Fest will be held Friday, June 13, 5-9 p.m. (adults only on Friday night), and Saturday, June 14, 2-7 p.m., at the soccer fields next door to Lander Valley High School, 150 Baldwin Creek Road. The Lander Brew Festival features “20+ brewers, local vendors, rockin’ music, and all-around great folks for a two-day brew tasting and epic taste-bud hop-dueling competition.”

There will be whiskey and wine tasting on Friday night only. Whiskey tasting cards will be for sale, 4 samples for $10. The wine tasting will be included in the cost of admission. There will also be non-alcoholic drinks available. Contact info@landerchamber.org www.landerchamber.org

And be sure to bring your appetite because there’ll be pizza, mexican and and lots more to keep your energy up for both days! Live music both days! Pets will not be allowed, so please keep your pet at home.

Saturday, June 14, an additional event this year includes the 1st Annual Brewers Golf Tournament beginning at 9 am at the Lander Golf and Country Club (1 Golf Course Drive). This 9-hole scramble is open for public entry ($21) and is your chance meet the festival brewers from all around the country who will be pouring beers later in the day.

The Fremont Area Road Tour (FART) will hold their ride on Saturday, June 14, and participants in the ride can get a discounted ticket into Brew Fest. This is a Recreational Road Ride with routes from 3.5-100 miles, fully supported. Proceeds go to Injury Prevention resources to provide Bike Helmets to Kids. www.landercycling.com

Also, the Central Wyoming Speedgoat Rugby Club will compete in a match on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at the high school soccer field, 150 Baldwin Creek Road. Come watch this exciting event and then cool down with a nice cold beer at the Lander Brew Fest!For more information about event schedules and activities, call the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce 307-332-3892, info@landerchamber.org www.landerchamber.org, www.landerbrewfest.com

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring Antelope Gap Dream Berries & More of Wheatland

LeRoy Jons grew up in the Old Battle Town area. He has always liked the “old west” mining towns. Having spent a good amount of time in the area, exploring old buildings inspired LeRoy to build bird houses and feeders to resemble an old west village with a “bird theme to make them happy.” He tries to make them similar to the old cabins and other old west ghost towns he has visited.

The feeders are made from rough cut beetle kill pine. Some of the wood is from the Arapahoe fire from a couple years ago, which is near their Wheatland-area home. There is a local sawmill that does custom cutting, primarily beetle kill, which is where he gets the lumber. Antelope Gap Dream Berries & More is a family business. Their bird houses and feeders can be customized and no two are alike. Names can be added, which makes for a wonderful, personal gift for a special occasion.

Orders can place by phone or email. The birdhouses/ feeders are sold at the local farmers market, Triple Crown Commodities Cooperative (an online farmers market in SE WY) and at craft shows. This year you can find them at the Wyoming Mercantile at the Wyoming State Fair in August.

Antelope Gap Dream Berries & More products range from $45.00 for the “Blue Bird of Happiness” outhouses, $55.00 for the “old west front stores” and $65.00 for the “home tweet home” log house and feeders.

The birdhouses and feeders are handcrafted and designed to withstand the Wyoming “breezes,” and to show people that beetle kill pine is actually a pretty wood and can be used for numerous projects. Contact LeRoy via phone or email (above) to order!

Jackson’s Trailside Gallery has a variety of wonderful shows and events to enjoy this summer. For beautiful art, for the discriminating collector, be sure to visit them online and when in Jackson, visit their gallery at 130 East Broadway.

We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring Country Creations by Elaine

Elaine thought greeting cards were getting expensive, so she started drawing her own scenes for cards to send to family and friends. As happens with many of our small companies, friends and family loved the cards so much they encouraged Elaine to have her art printed and start selling them.

Elaine does not take customer orders, however, she is open to ideas for the greeting cards.

The small blank notecards (4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″) are $2.00 each and Elaine can make a set of 12 cards for $20.00. Elaine can also make a set of whatever designs the customer would like. There are currently 16 designs and the envelopes are included with the cards. Postage would be added on to the order. At this time Elaine does not accept credit cards, but purchases can be done through PayPal. She does accept checks, and can provide the postage amount, which can be added to the payment.

Country Creations by Elaine note cards can be ordered by phone (307-334-3139) — please leave a message. Customers can also email Elaine at esfrancis@hughes.net; be sure to put “cards” in the message box or subject line. She will respond as quickly as possible.

Country Creations by Elaine can also be found at Artful Hands in Buffalo and AVA Community Art Center in Gillette.